​Parasailing Death From Broken Harness In Pompano Beach

A woman parasailing on vacation dropped to her death Wednesday afternoon when her harness broke in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Kathleen Miskell, 28, fell 150 to 200 feet — the equivalent of 15 to 20 stories — into the water, Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Sandra King said. Stephen Miskell, who rode next to his wife in a side-by-side harness, was safely reeled into the boat.

Once Stephen was aboard, the boat captain navigated to Kathleen, who was face down in the water, King said. She was pulled into the boat and CPR was performed during the seven to eight minutes it took to get to shore where paramedics were waiting.

Miskell was taken to Broward Health North where she was pronounced dead, according to Carli Segelson, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is investigating the accident.

“When you fall a distance like that it’s almost like falling on a solid surface,” King said.

The couple were on an excursion led by Wave Blast Water Sports, which operates out of the Sands Harbor Hotel.

The boat was taken to the FWC Port Everglades office in Fort Lauderdale as evidence and the two crew members who were aboard the boat were taken to the hospital for drug and alcohol testing.

Donna E. Albert, the attorney representing the company, prohibited anyone related to the company to talk or post pictures on social media sites.

Wave Blast owner Zachary Chandler could not be reached for comment. A person who answered a phone number listed for him said Chandler wasn’t going to talk about what happened, then hung up.